All the single ladies (and gentlemen) can agree that dating is brutal. We picture our perfect match and have conjured up a list of what makes our dream catch so…..well……errr……dreamy. They have to be attractive, successful, love puppies, not be a convicted serial killer……the list goes on and on. But what if they meet all of the criteria and there’s just no spark (not referring the subcompact Chevrolet, this being a car blog, after all)? It’s beyond disappointing when they check all the right boxes but they’re as dull as oatmeal porridge and there’s no chemistry. The date goes nowhere. That’s how my experience went with the Hyundai Accent. It does everything a compact car should, but there was nothing extraordinary that made me crave a second date. That’s especially disappointing since the last generation Accent was among the best and more interesting cars in its class. But something tells me that Hyundai doesn’t want to continue the relationship much longer either.
There’s an old adage that “you can’t please everyone.” Hyundai knows that all-too-well when it comes to its long-running family sedan; the Sonata. Picture it…….the United States….2010. Hyundai debuts its radical fifth generation Sonata to much fanfare. For the first time ever, there were waitlists for……a….Hyundai sedan. Annual sales nearly doubled by the time I tested that Sonata in 2013 and the car became a true force to be reckoned with. But alas, all was not well in the kingdom and back in Hyundai’s home market, the new look was too showy for Korea’s conservative tastes. To win those buyers back, Hyundai went a conservative route with the all-new sixth generation in 2015. The tactic worked, initially. But like the little Dutch boy plugging the hole in the dike with his finger to save Haarlem, another leak sprung and demand in America dropped to pre-2010 levels. Desperate to find middle ground, Hyundai did a major refresh in 2018 to liven up the Sonata’s personality in an effort to make everyone happy. But can they, and did they, succeed?
It was only befitting that our test car in the proud state of New Mexico was the all-new 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. Refer to your geography books, or what you learned in sixth grade, and you’ll recall that Santa Fe is the capital of the self-proclaimed “Land of Enchantment”. Aside from sharing the same namesake, the city and the vehicle each have historical significance. Founded in 1610 by Spanish colonists, Santa Fe retains its title as the oldest U.S. state capital after it became the seat of government for the new colony of Nuevo Mexico. Debuting for 2001, the Santa Fe marked a major shift for Hyundai when it became the brand’s first, and currently longest-serving, SUV. But that’s where the similarities end. One is made of abode. The other is primarily steel. The city has 65,000 inhabitants. The car can only hold a maximum of five. But wait! Isn’t the Santa Fe capable of holding seven?! While that was recently true, it’s also marks a change in the Santa Fe’s evolution as it enters its fourth generation, and like the city, reflects back on its humble roots.
There’s a death chant for the sedan across America. More and more car buyers are discovering the attributes and conceived rugged image of crossover SUV’s and migrating from the traditional sedan in droves. Case in point, Ford has pledged that they will discontinue all of their cars (bar the Mustang) to…ahem….focus solely on trucks and CUV’s by 2020. Rumours circulate that GM may follow suit. But don’t tell Hyundai and their buyers. Of the seven vehicle lineup that they offered in 2018, including three SUV’s, the Elantra was easily the best selling model for the brand and 7th best selling car in the country. Over 200,000 found homes last year, outpacing the next runner-up, the Tucson compact crossover, by more than 65,000 units. Of all the Hyundais sold in the U.S., one in four was an Elantra. For every Velostar that left the dealer, they were able to move 20 Elantras. You get the idea; the Elantra sells! Against all odds and the writing on the wall, the second-smallest Hyundai is tenaciously bucking the trend. But what makes buyers keep coming back for this compact sedan? Let’s find out.
“Whoa Cowboy!” You may exclaim. “You already tested this generation Hyundai Elantra way back in 2013. What’s the point of testing the hatchback version?” While it’s easy to dimiss the Hyundai Elantra GT as being just an Elantra with a humpback, it’s not quite that simple. Sure, the two share the same engine and most Hyundai dealers will group the sedan and hatch together in the same corner of the sales lot. But unlike the sedan which was designed from the get-go for the Korean and American markets, the hatch was intended for European consumers and is based on the German-engineered Hyundai i30. There’s enough of a unique, Euro flavor in the GT that it was worthy of its own separate review.
Kimchi is the national dish of Korea. The Seoul specialty is fermented cabbage smothered in garlic, hot pepper, ginger and other pungent ingredients leading to an intense flavor. It’s an interesting dish, but when it comes down to it; it’s still just cabbage. The Korean-sourced Hyundai Elantra has been like that since its introduction in 1992; prepared from basic ingredients and spiced up with valued-packed pricing and a generous warranty. At first the flavor suits the palate, but the taste doesn’t linger. Not to say the Elantra is a bad car at all. In fact I’ve bought two of them in the past partially due to the bargain price and was very satisfied with them. And here lies the issue, although the Elantra has always been a competent and decent little car, there was little beyond the sticker price to recommend over other compacts if you were looking for a set of wheels with character. When the all-new fifth generation Elantra debuted for 2011, all of that changed.
Maybe it’s a personal preference, but I’ve always had an affinity for the underdog. You know, the guy that has all the odds against them- who will more than likely walk away in shame and defeat. I cheered when the New York Giants won the Super Bowl in 2004. Was overjoyed when the little engine that could…. really could. And cried when Urkel went to the prom with the love of his life, Laura Winslow. Okay, maybe I didn’t react to any of those events (would I really confess to it if I did?), but I’ll admit to always having a soft spot for Hyundai. The spunky Korean automaker that arrived on US shores in 1986 with affordable and cheery little cars that were cheap as chips but later garnered a reputation of bad quality. The perceived quality was so bad that Hyundai almost fled out of the US market. Unlike other automakers in similar situations, such as Alfa Romeo, Yugo, and Fiat, Hyundai tenaciously clung on and offered improved products and generous warranties to qualm any reliability fears.
In the Summer of 2000, my parents and I were actively looking for a cheap set of reliable (used) wheels for my upcoming college years. Like many in that same situation over the years,our quest sent us on a pilgrimage to the local Hyundai dealer. While checking out an Elantra, my mother’s attention was diverted by a shiny vehicle across the showroom floor and she exclaimed “what’s that!?” “That” was the all-new for 2001 Santa Fe, Hyundai’s first attempt at an SUV. Previously known for selling cheap, cheery economy cars, the Santa Fe represented a new chapter for the manufacturer. The automaker wanted to be taken seriously and couldn’t do so without a truck in its stable. But Hyundai isn’t one to shy away from risks, and looked to outer space for inspiration for the first Santa Fe. Instead of the traditional outdoorsy look, that Santa Fe had love-it–or hate-it bulging fenders, a gaping grill, and a spaceship like interior. It begged for attention and the gamble paid off. My mother eagerly bought one, which she still owns to this day. And she wasn’t alone, Hyundai couldn’t keep up with demand and it quickly became their best-selling vehicle in the early 2000’s. The stage was set for Hyundai in the 21st Century.
It’s no secret that Hyundai is on a roll in the US. Starting with the redesigned 2010 Sonata, the company has gone through a renaissance with a continual surge of all-new products in the last two years that offer lofty fuel economy figures, daring styling, and a long-time Hyundai favorite; aggressive pricing and an industry-leading warranty. Consumers have noticed and sales increased 29% in 2011 over an already successful 2010. Gone is the stigma that Hyundais are cheap, cheerful cars that disintegrated soon after being purchased.
The car you see in these photos was not part of that resurgence. At least in the US it wasn’t. It’s called the i20, and although it may not be a car that will ever see American soil, it still plays a very important role for Hyundai.
“Whoa Cowboy!” You may exclaim. “You already tested this generation Hyundai Elantra way back in 2013. What’s the point of testing the hatchback version?” While it’s easy to dimiss the Hyundai Elantra GT as being just an Elantra with a humpback, it’s not quite that simple. Sure, the two share the same engine and most Hyundai dealers will group the sedan and hatch together in the same corner of the sales lot. But unlike the sedan which was designed from the get-go for the Korean and American markets, the hatch was intended for European consumers and is based on the German-engineered Hyundai i30. There’s enough of a unique, Euro flavor in the GT that it was worthy of its own separate review.
RENTAL CAR REVIEWS BY THE ROO 